ALÌ TERME
27 Km (16 miles) north of Taormina on the Ionian coast between Scaletta Zanclea and Nizza di Sicilia is the hydrothermal resort of Alí Terme: water and mud treatments suitable for chronic arthropathies, skin complaints, gynecological problems and inflammation of the respiratory system are available here.There are two spas: Granata Cassibile and Marino, respectively using the waters and muds of five and two springs. The water temperature varies between 28 and 46° C. They are rich in boric acid, sulphur, sodium bromide, chloride, iodide and carbonic acid.
Easy to reach, a treatment here is also good for your health with the added attraction of a beach, archaeological sites and beautiful coastal and hill scenery nearby.
ANTILLO
In the Montagna Grande range of the southern Peloritan mountains, its history is bound to that of Savoca and the and the inhabitants are given over to agriculture and stock farming.
CASALVECCHIO SICULO
It lies in the southern Peloritan mountains on the south eastern slopes of Mt. Sant’Elia. The village has Arab origins and was mentioned in 1130 as Calabiet, part of the feudal lands of the town of Savoca and until 1812 it belonged to the bishops of Messina. ….. From 1928 to 1939 Casalvecchio the abolished commune was joined to the town of that of Santa Teresa di Riva. The inhabitants devote themselves to primary activities. The main church (Sant’Onofrio) with a baroque facade houses an Epiphany by G. Camarda (1626), a precious marble after and, in the treasury, a statue of the saint in embossed silver and a 17th C. chalice. Nearby, on the left bank of the Agrò river rises a national monument, the church of saints Pietro e Paolo, of Basilian origin, rebuilt in 1172 by the master builder Gerardo il Franco.Running along the outer walls, in alternate layers of red bricks, black lava stones and wite limestone are slim pilaster strips, connected to intertwining pointed arches, crowned by crenellated work. The interior has three naves with semi-circular apses, the center one being rectangular.
CASTELMOLA
Castelmola is a small medieval town perched on a mountain-peak overlooking Taormina and lies about 550 mts (1580 ft) above the sea level offering a magnificent view of the sea, Taormina, the coast of Calabria and Mt. Etna.
It counts slightly more than 1000 inhabitants. Very famous for the production of almond-wine and embroidery. The town center has two churches, the Mother Church which is a hodgepodge of architectural styles, and the Church of St. George, which dates from 1450 and is noted for its bell-tower. St. George’s day, april 23, is a popular attraction for people who enjoy patronal festivals.
Many places are to be visited, such as the Spanish castle (14th century) or the St. Antonio square, the “belvedere” (scenic point), the Cathedral and all the typical medieval narrow alleys of the town. Mountains, hills and valleys beyond Castelmola abound with wild flowers, shrubs and trees and landscape is particularly scenic.
CASTIGLIONE DI SICILIA
Small town of very old origin, dominates the beautiful valley of Alcantara from above its rock. The town gets its name from “Castel Leone” which rises on the grindstone where 730 years b.c. an observation point was erected by the Greeks. In the following centuries Normans, Swabians and Arabs each brought new culture and costumes. Today Castiglione offers a urban plan of great interest, original embroidery, excellent red wine and savory gastronomic delicacies (very good are the noodles whit nettle).
CASTROREALE
This village was probably founded by the Siculans in the 8th C. B.C. It immediately became of strategic importance for its position controlling the Milazzo valley. For this reason, during the centuries, the town was granted with generous privileges by several kings and was always quite rich.
The church of the Assunta flanked by a 16th century bell tower, houses a statue of Saint Cathrine made in 1534 by Antonello Gagini, also responsible for the “Annunciation” dated 1519 to be admired in the church of Saint Agata. In the church of Santa Maria del Gesù is the tomb of Geronimo Rosso again by A. Gagini.
Every 23/25th of August, great celebrations are held when a crucifix 12 metres heigth is carried in grand procession between two of the main churches of the town.
CESARÒ
In the Mt. Soro range of the southern Nebrodi Mountains this village stands on the watershed between the Cuto and Troina streams. In 1334 Frederick II of Aragon donated the village to Cristoforo Romano Colonna, an important doctor from Messina.
The economy is based on same small cottage industries and on agriculture.
Little of the castle has survived. The main church is baroque, houses a 15th century Crucifix painted on a tablet. This is the place of lovers of mountain-excursions. Nearby is the Femmina Morta pass. Near Cesarò you get splendid views embracing the western slopes of Etna, woods and an artificial lake, the so-called Biviere di Cesarò. The many possible excursions are best made with the aid of a guide.
FIUMEDINISI
In the south eastern Peloritan mountains, the village is clustered in a bend of the Fiumedinisi river, close to its mouth.
It is surrounded by beautiful mountains and small, rich valleys protected by a nature reserve. The most important monument is the castle “Belvedere” which is a medieval fortress at 750 metres a.s.l. with a breathtaking view on the Mediterranean Sea. It is a place that oozes a rare charm for the loneliness of the ruins and the majesty of the landscape(dr Andrea Orlando).
The main church conserves two 16th C. sculptures, by the Florentine M. Montanini and the artist from Messina R. Bonanno.
FLORESTA
Floresta (also Casal Floresta) is the highest Sicilian village, lying 1,275 meters above sea level in the Nebrodi Nature Park in a saddle between Mt Pistone and the Serre di Baratta. Its foundation seems to date back to when the Romans invaded and colonized Sicily; a time when the area was originally dense forest (floresta in Latin), with tall trees used by the Romans for building their ships and boats. Today the immense florest are gone but it is still one of the coldest village of south Italy having regularly about two metres snow each year.
FORZA D’AGRÒ
It is basically a medieval village dramatically overlooking the Ionian Sea at 15 Km (9 miles) from Taormina. Impressing are the surrounding spurs of the southern Peloritani mountains carved by the rivers which in winter erode their rocky banks.
The winding route to the village opens sweeping views of the coasts of Taormina and Calabria as far as the Strait of Messina. The village is dominated by the remains of the castle of the 16th century, today used as a cemetery. Forza d’Agrò has featured as the backdrop in a number of films, such as The Godfather trilogy.
FRANCAVILLA
Francavilla di Sicilia is a medieval city which grew around a norman castle and the basilian monastery of San Salvatore di Placa, founded in 1092 upon the ruins of another. We suggest to visit the old church Matrice (1493), whose main door is decorated with a vine leaf motif, and the convent of the Cappucini (1585) and its museum. The Cappucini convent, built in 1585, is still in good condition. There is a splendid carved wood altar and two precious painted wood relics in the church. The name “Francavilla” comes from the French franc-ville, that is “Free town” because originally it was a tax-free town.
GALLODORO
Situated in the southern Peloritans mountains to the left of the Letojanni river, this village is not far from the Ionian coast. Formerly part of the Taormina territory, in 1952 it became independent.
GIARDINI NAXOS
Situated below Taormina, with his lovely bay, a splendid sea, in a flat coastal position.
Naxos was the first Greek colony in Sicily, founded in 735 B.C. by Chalcidians of Euboea. To commemorate the event, a monument in bronze was erected at the very tip of Naxos – Capo Schisó: the NIKE.
Naxos is archeologically one of the very few remaining chances to study the most ancient aspects of Greek urbanistics.The fertile sunny position, convenient for boats, must have been the reason for the choice made by the colonizers.From the 18th C. onwards the village of citrus farmers and fishermen lived simply in this “village of gardens”, that’s where the name Giardini (Gardens) comes from. A visitor to Giardini will also recall that Garibaldi (the italian hero who unified Italy starting a liberation-expedition from Sicily) left from the port of Giardini to land in Calabria. A monument commemorates the event.
GORGES OF ALCANTARA
The river Alcantara marks the boundary between the Provinces of Messina and Catania. The Greeks called the river “Akesines”, the Arabs “Al-Quàntarah” (“the bridge”). Along 48 Km (30 miles) of its lenght it brushes up against the territory of Randazzo and flows on towards the coast, separating the volcano Mt. Etna from the mountains to the north.
The spectacular gorges were created by the erosion and cooling of the lava flowing from the crater of Mount Dolce, between Linguaglossa and Randazzo, on the Etna massif.
The gorges show the inner part of the flow with the splendid, columnar fissures of magma rapidly cooled by the gushing water. More than 20m (57 ft) deep the gorges have bizzarre basalt prisms dotted here and there with cool spontaneous vegetation.
ITÀLA
Situated in the south eastern Peloritan mountains, Itála lies on the southern slopes of Monte Scuderi. The houses are scattered on the banks of the Itála river. Marina d’Itála is situated at its outlet to the Ionian sea. Existing in Norman times, the village was donated by Roger to the monastery of San Pietro, built by him. From 1928 to 1947 the village was annexed to that of Scaletta Zanclea. Its economy is based on agriculture, commerce, summer tourism and wood working.
The main church conserves two precious 14th century painted crucifixes. In the Croce district the Church of San Pietro (1093) has conserved the traits of the Norman Basilian construction: it has a Basilica plan with three naves and three apses, the exterior enlivened with blind and tiered arches in fired brick and limestone.
LETOJANNI
Situated on the Ionian coast north of Taormina, Letojanni extends along the eastern Sicilian trunk road, on both sides of the outlet of the Letojanni river. A small hamlet coming under Gallodoro, it expanded in the last century and with Gallodoro in 1880 it obtained administrational equality, maintained until 1952 when Letojanni and Gallodoro became two autonomous communes.
Tourism has developed here, favored by good reception facilities, and flanks agriculture and fishing.
MANDANICI
This village is in the Peloritan mountains at the southern foot of Mount Cavallo. Mandanichium belonged to the Basilian monastery, founded by Roger the Norman, until 1475, when it passed to the secular clergy.
The land is filled with vineyards, olive groves, orchards, woods and pasturelands, favoring stock rearing.
SAVOCA
Savoca is situated on the low southern slopes of the Peloritan mountains. It was founded in the first half of the 12th century and was first mentioned in 1415 when it already belonged to the archibishops of Messina. The economy is agricultural and based mainly on the cultivation of citrus fruits.
Only ruins remain those of the norman castle. The church of San Michele, 15th century in origin, has two lovely gothic doors and houses a coeval painting of San Michele. The main Church, erected in the 16th century, has a lovely Renaissance door, two smaller gothic doors and a rose window; alongside it is a 15th C. bell tower. The town, together with Forza d’Agrò, was the location for the scenes set in Corleone of Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. The place is also famous for the Capuchin monastery where mummified bodies of prestigious town residents of 18th and 19th centuries are on display.
